EFFICIENCY OF DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF COLD-FORMED SINGLE-ANGLE STEEL MEMBERS CONNECTED THROUGH ONE LEGUNDER AXIAL LOADING

Abstract

A detailed experimental program was performed using 36 cold-formed steel (CFS) single-angle column members attached by one leg was investigated subjected to axial compression loads. The key purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of slenderness ratio and different connection types on the load-carrying capacity of CFS angle sections under axial compression. The parameters investigated via the test program includes (a) angle sections with and without lipped profile, (b) sectional thicknesses (2 mm and 3mm), (c) slenderness ratios (λ = 20, 50, 80) from short to slender columns, and (d) type of connections i.e. two-bolt, three-bolt and welded connections. Results shown that the angle sections had a significant reduction in the load-carrying capacity when the slenderness ratio was increased from 20 to 80. Moreover, the mode of failure for short columns was changed from local buckling mode to combined local and flexural buckling for intermediate columns (λ = 50) and torsional-flexural buckling mode for long columns (λ = 80). Also, a detailed analytical study was carried out comparing the predictability of existing equations from different standards for angle sections under axial compression.